The Royal Thai Embassy in Bern is the Thai mission for visas in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Residents of both countries file their e-Visa with Bern, and the embassy announced in 2021 that the honorary consulates in Basel and Geneva had stopped issuing visas. The embassy isn't in central Bern, either. Its address is Kirchstrasse 56 in Liebefeld bei Bern.
The mistake applicants make is assuming they can fix an application after sending it. The embassy is blunt: once submitted, an e-Visa application cannot be amended. A typo in a name or date means a new application and a new fee, because the fee is not refunded.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Official name | Royal Thai Embassy, Bern |
| Address | Kirchstrasse 56, 3097 Liebefeld bei Bern |
| Phone | +41 31 970 30 30 to 34 (general); visa section +41 31 970 34 27 |
| General enquiry hours | 09:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00, except embassy holidays |
| Consular services | By online appointment |
| Jurisdiction | Residents of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, with valid proof of residency |
| Visa applications | Online only at thaievisa.go.th (e-Visa here since 22 November 2021) |
| Stated processing time | About 10 business days; 8 to 12 weeks for certain nationalities |
| Tourist visa fee | CHF 40 single entry, CHF 185 multiple entries |
| DTV fee | CHF 350 |
Which Areas This Mission Covers
The embassy's rule: individuals currently residing in Switzerland or Liechtenstein, with valid proof of residency, may apply for e-Visas through the Royal Thai Embassy, Bern. Anyone living elsewhere applies to the Thai mission for their own country of residence. The embassy also says it cannot issue visas to people who are already in Thailand, or extend a stay beyond what the immigration officer granted on arrival.
Yes, it covers Liechtenstein. Residents of Liechtenstein file under Bern, and the embassy also legalises documents issued in Liechtenstein (see Practical Notes).
The honorary consulates don't handle visas. The embassy announced that from 28 May 2021 the Royal Thai Honorary Consulate-General in Basel and the Royal Thai Honorary Consulate in Geneva no longer issue visas or legalise documents, and that consular services for foreign nationals in Switzerland are provided at the embassy in Bern. Plan on Bern for everything visa-related, whichever canton you live in.
Do You Need a Visa?
For a holiday, no. Swiss passport holders get a 30-day visa exemption on arrival under the rules in force since 15 September 2026, and Liechtenstein is on the same 30-day list. You can extend once, by up to 30 days, at a Thai immigration office for 1,900 THB, for about 60 days in total. The exemption is for tourism only, land-border entries on it are capped at two per calendar year, and if you entered before 15 September 2026 you keep the stay you were granted. The embassy adds one exception: foreign nationals travelling on a travel document or passport issued by the Swiss government are not covered by the exemption. Details: visa exemption and the September 2026 change.
You need the embassy when you want:
- A tourist visa. The embassy's TR1 tourism visa allows a stay of up to 60 days, extendable by 30 days at a Thai immigration office.
- A Non-Immigrant visa for work, study, retirement or family
- The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): five years, 180 days per entry
- Legalisation of Swiss or Liechtenstein documents for use in Thailand
Not sure which? The visa finder will narrow it down, and our e-Visa guide covers the portal itself.
How to Apply
- Read the portal's user manual and video tutorials first; the embassy strongly recommends it. Then create an account at thaievisa.go.th.
- Select the Royal Thai Embassy, Bern, and upload the documents for your category, including valid proof of residence in Switzerland or Liechtenstein.
- Check every field before you submit. The application cannot be amended afterwards.
- Pay online. The embassy states the visa fee cannot be refunded.
- Wait for the e-Visa by email. The embassy gives roughly 10 business days; for certain nationalities it can take 8 to 12 weeks.
Respond within 30 days. Consular officers can ask for more documents or call you for an interview in person at the embassy. Requested documents must arrive within 30 days of submission, or the application is cancelled automatically.
Timing. Apply at least 30 days before departure but not more than 90 days ahead; most visas are valid for 90 days from issue.
Fees
Fees published on the embassy's visa pages (read 16 September 2026):
| Visa | Fee |
|---|---|
| Tourist visa TR1, single entry (valid 90 days) | CHF 40 |
| Tourist visa TR1, multiple entries (valid 180 days) | CHF 185 |
| Non-Immigrant O (family, retirement, volunteering), single entry | CHF 80 |
| Non-Immigrant B (work and business), single entry | CHF 80 |
| Non-Immigrant B (work and business), multiple entries | CHF 185 |
| Non-Immigrant B3 (frequent business visits, 3 years) | CHF 350 |
| Non-Immigrant ED (study and training), single entry | CHF 80 |
| Non-Immigrant O-A long stay (1 year) | CHF 185 |
| Non-Immigrant O-X long stay (5 years) | CHF 350 |
| Destination Thailand Visa (5 years, multiple entry) | CHF 350 |
The Non-Immigrant figures come from the embassy's Non-Immigrant visa page. The portal shows the fee for your category before you pay.
Practical Notes
Email rather than phone for visas. When we checked, the embassy's visa page said the visa section's telephone line was out of service for technical maintenance and asked applicants to use email. Try the general number, +41 31 970 30 30, if you need a person.
Book consular appointments online. For consular services, the embassy asks you to make an appointment through its online booking system instead of walking in.
Legalising Liechtenstein documents. Have the document legalised by the Government Chancellery of the Principality of Liechtenstein first; the embassy does not accept an Apostille stamp. The embassy then legalises signatures and translations at CHF 20 per stamp (CHF 20 per document for translations), payable in cash. Send the original (no older than five months; two months for single-status attestations and criminal records) with one copy, the application form, a copy of your ID or passport, and a prepaid registered return envelope. The same page gives two timings, 3 to 5 working days and about 5 to 7 working days, so allow for the longer one.
Holidays. The embassy publishes a holiday calendar on its website. When we checked, only the 2025 calendar was posted, so phone or email before a visit near a holiday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Thai embassy in Bern cover Liechtenstein?
Yes. The embassy handles e-Visas for people residing in Switzerland or Liechtenstein with valid proof of residency, and it legalises documents issued in Liechtenstein.
How long does a Thai visa take at the Bern embassy?
About 10 business days for most applicants, according to the embassy. Certain nationalities can wait 8 to 12 weeks, so apply at least 30 days before you travel.
Can I get a Thai visa at the consulate in Geneva, Zurich or Basel?
Not in Geneva or Basel: the embassy announced that the honorary consulates there stopped issuing visas and legalising documents on 28 May 2021. Visa applications from Switzerland go online to the embassy in Bern.
How much is a Thai tourist visa in Switzerland?
CHF 40 for a single-entry tourist visa and CHF 185 for multiple entries, according to the embassy's tourist visa page. The DTV costs CHF 350.
Can I correct my Thai e-Visa application after submitting it?
No. The Bern embassy states that a submitted application cannot be amended, and the fee is not refunded. You would have to file a new application.
Do Swiss citizens need a visa for Thailand?
Not for a holiday of up to 30 days. Since 15 September 2026 Swiss and Liechtenstein passport holders get a 30-day exemption, extendable once by up to 30 days in Thailand for 1,900 THB.
Sources
- Royal Thai Embassy Bern: Office hours and address
- Royal Thai Embassy Bern: Contact
- Royal Thai Embassy Bern: How to apply for a visa (e-Visa)
- Royal Thai Embassy Bern: Visa information
- Royal Thai Embassy Bern: Tourist visa
- Royal Thai Embassy Bern: Non-Immigrant visa (fees by category)
- Royal Thai Embassy Bern: Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
- Royal Thai Embassy Bern: Documents from Liechtenstein
- Royal Thai Embassy Bern: Honorary consulates in Basel and Geneva stop visas and legalisation
- Royal Thai Embassy Bern: Embassy holidays
- TAT Newsroom: new 30-day and 15-day visa exemption rules from 15 September
